Wort \Wort\, n. [OE. wort, wurt, AS. wyrt herb, root; akin to OS. wurt, G. wurz, Icel. jurt, urt, Dan. urt, Sw. ["o]rt, Goth. wa['u]rts a root, L. radix, Gr. ? a root, ? a branch, young shoot, ? a branch, and E. root, n. Cf. Licorice, Orchard, Radish, Root, n., Whortleberry, Wort an infusion of malt.]

1. (Bot.) A plant of any kind.

Note: This word is now chiefly used in combination, as in colewort, figwort, St. John's-wort, woundwort, etc.

2. pl. Cabbages.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Wort \Wort\, n. [OE. worte, wurte, AS. wyrte; akin to OD. wort, G. w["u]rze, bierw["u]rze, Icel. virtr, Sw. v["o]rt. See Wort an herb.]

An infusion of malt which is unfermented, or is in the act of fermentation; the sweet infusion of malt, which ferments and forms beer; hence, any similar liquid in a state of incipient fermentation.

Note: Wort consists essentially of a dilute solution of sugar, which by fermentation produces alcohol and carbon dioxide.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)